To Prepare: Review The Resources And Reflect On Your Thinkin
To Prepare: review the Resources And Reflect On Your Thinking Regarding
To prepare: review the resources and reflect on your thinking regarding the role of the nurse in the design and implementation of new healthcare programs. Select a healthcare program within your practice and consider the design and implementation of this program. Reflect on advocacy efforts and the role of the nurse in relation to healthcare program design and implementation.
The assignment: (2–4 pages) in a 2- to 4-page paper, create an interview transcript of your responses to the following interview questions:
- Tell us about a healthcare program within your practice. What are the costs and projected outcomes of this program?
- Who is your target population? What is the role of the nurse in providing input for the design of this healthcare program? Can you provide examples?
- What is your role as an advocate for your target population for this healthcare program? Do you have input into design decisions?
- How else do you impact design?
- What is the role of the nurse in healthcare program implementation? How does this role vary between design and implementation of healthcare programs? Can you provide examples?
- Who are the members of a healthcare team that you believe are most needed to implement a program? Can you explain why?
Paper For Above instruction
The evolving landscape of healthcare necessitates active involvement of nurses in the design and implementation of new healthcare programs. As frontline caregivers with direct patient contact and comprehensive clinical knowledge, nurses are uniquely positioned to influence program development to enhance patient outcomes, improve efficiency, and ensure that programs meet the needs of diverse populations. Reflecting on this, I will examine a healthcare program within my practice, focusing on its design, targeted population, associated costs and outcomes, and the critical advocacy role nurses play throughout these stages.
The healthcare program I am considering is a Preventive Chronic Disease Management Initiative aimed at reducing hospital readmissions among patients with heart failure. This program includes patient education, regular follow-up, medication management, and lifestyle counseling. The projected outcomes include decreased hospitalization rates, improved quality of life, and reduced healthcare costs. The costs associated involve staffing for educational sessions, remote monitoring devices, and patient outreach efforts, with expected savings from fewer readmissions over time.
The target population primarily comprises elderly patients with chronic heart failure, a demographic particularly vulnerable to recurrent hospitalizations and significant healthcare expenses. Nurses play an essential role in the design of this program by providing insights into patient needs, barriers to care, and effective educational strategies based on their direct interactions with patients. For example, nurses might suggest tailored intervention approaches to accommodate patients’ health literacy levels or cultural preferences, thereby ensuring the program is accessible and engaging.
As advocates, nurses champion the needs of their target population by ensuring that the program includes services that address social determinants of health, such as addressing transportation barriers or medication affordability. Nurses also influence design decisions by participating in interdisciplinary planning meetings, offering patient feedback, and ensuring program components are feasible within clinical workflows. Their advocacy extends beyond design, as nurses serve as educators and motivators, encouraging patient adherence and engagement.
In impacting program design, nurses contribute through data collection and analysis, offering insights into patient responses and outcomes that refine program components. They also participate in policy development to embed best practices into standard care protocols. The role of the nurse shifts when moving from design to implementation; during implementation, nurses focus on delivering care, educating patients, and monitoring progress.
While in the design phase, nurses' input primarily informs what services are included and how they are structured; during implementation, their role becomes operational—ensuring that services are delivered effectively and adaptations are made based on real-time feedback. For example, if a patient struggles with medication adherence, nurses may modify educational strategies or follow-up schedules to improve compliance.
Effective program implementation requires collaboration among a multidisciplinary team. Key members include physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, pharmacists, and community health workers. These members are crucial because they bring diverse expertise necessary for comprehensive patient care—physicians provide medical oversight, social workers address socioeconomic barriers, pharmacists ensure medication management, and community health workers facilitate engagement within communities. Nurses serve as coordinators, educators, and advocates, ensuring seamless integration of services and patient-centered care.
In conclusion, nurses hold a pivotal role in both the design and implementation of healthcare programs. Their clinical expertise, advocacy, and collaborative skills are vital to developing effective, patient-centered initiatives that improve health outcomes and address the complex needs of diverse populations. As healthcare continues to evolve, ongoing active engagement of nurses in program development will be essential to meet the dynamic challenges of modern healthcare delivery.
References
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA.
- Donelan, K., DesRoches, C., Dittus, R., & Buerhaus, P. (2013). Perspectives of hospital leaders on barriers and facilitators to team-based care. Nursing Economics, 31(5), 224-232.
- Institute of Medicine. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The National Academies Press.
- Kleinpell, R. M., & Hain, D. (2017). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. In M. O'Neill (Ed.), AACN Procedure Manual for Critical Care (7th ed., pp. 45-57). Elsevier.
- Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2015). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. Wolters Kluwer.
- Pfaff, L., & Alksnis, C. (2014). Leadership and Advocacy. In R. M. Billings & J. L. Halstead (Eds.), Teaching in Nursing: A Guide for Faculty (5th ed., pp. 243-258). Elsevier.
- Reid, R., & Schreiner, C. (2020). Team-Based Care in Contemporary Nursing Practice. Journal of Nursing Administration, 50(4), 183-190.
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2016). Building a Culture of Health: A Call to Action. RWJF.
- Rush, K. L., Howlett, L., Duffield, C., & Madhavan, S. (2018). The impact of nursing care on patient outcomes: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 88, 76-89.
- World Health Organization. (2016). Framework on integrated people-centred health services. WHO Publications.